Page 88 of His to Possess
I nodded slowly, my mind struggling to process his words. "Yes, but I was convinced he was only visiting to say goodbye."
Luka shook his head, his expression a mix of exasperation and pity. It reminded me of how an adult might look at a child who just couldn't grasp a simple concept.
"Oh, Laurel, let me spell it out for you. Rex, even with his so-called 'collectibles,' would have lost his mind at the sight of a woman being abused. Hell, all of us would have. Me, Remy, Nolan—we're not saints, but we have our limits."
I frowned, trying to reconcile this information with what I thought I knew about Rex and his friends.
"And now, you're telling me that Rex flew across the Atlantic in his private jet, just to say goodbye? And he ignored the fact that you've clearly been abused?" Luka's eyes bore into mine. "Do you really believe that?"
My certainties were crumbling, and I was left grasping at straws.
"I… I don't know what to believe anymore," I admitted, my voice shaky.
Luka's expression softened slightly. "Think about it, Laurel. Really think. Does it make any sense that Rex would just walk away after seeing you like this?"
As I considered his words, doubt crept in. I remembered the look in Rex's eyes last night—the anger, the concern, the barely contained fury. Had I misinterpreted everything?
"But if what you're saying is true," I started, my voice barely audible, "then why didn't he…"
I felt my heart racing as Luka's words sank in. The memory of Rex's visit last night flashed through my mind, and I suddenly recalled something I had overlooked in my emotional haze.
"Wait," I murmured, more to myself than to Luka. "Rex… he said he had one last thing to do before leaving Paris."
Before I could fully process this thought or ask Luka about it, I noticed his attention shift to his phone. His expression changed subtly, and without warning, he gently grasped my arm.
"Come on," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We need to move."
I resisted instinctively, panic rising in my chest. "What? No, I can't leave. Alain will—"
"Trust me," Luka interrupted, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made me pause. "It's okay. You'll be fine."
Despite my better judgment, I found myself following him. We moved swiftly through the gallery, past priceless artworks that now seemed insignificant compared to the turmoil in my mind. As we approached the entrance, my anxiety spiked.
"Luka, please," I whispered urgently. "I can't just walk out. You don't understand what Alain is capable of."
But Luka didn't slow down. Instead, he pushed open the gallery doors, and before I knew it, we were outside. The crisp Parisian air hit my face.
Luka guided me to a nearby bench, his hand a steady presence on my back. As we sat down, facing the gallery, I couldn't helpbut scan the windows nervously, half-expecting to see Alain's furious face glaring back at us.
"Relax," Luka said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You're safe. I promise."
I turned to him, confusion and fear warring inside me. His arm tightened around me slightly, and I was surprised to find comfort in the gesture. "Laurel, I need you to listen to me carefully. Things are about to change, but you need to trust that it's for the better."
I shook my head, tears threatening to spill over. "You don't understand. I can't just leave. Alain will—"
"Alain won't do anything," Luka interrupted, his voice firm. "Not anymore."
I stared at Luka, my mind struggling to process his words when suddenly, movement caught my eye. From a side street, a swarm of police officers emerged, their uniforms unmistakable. My heart raced as I watched them storm towards the gallery, their purpose clear.
"What's happening?"
Luka's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Justice," he said simply.
As the officers poured into the gallery, Luka turned to me, his eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and something that looked almost like pride.
"You want to know what's really going on?" he asked. "The moment Rex realized you were gone, he went berserk. You have no idea the lengths he went to figure out why you left."
I shook my head, confusion clouding my thoughts. "But… how?"
